[Paddlewise] How many rolls?

MJAkayaker_at_aol.com asked about what rolls to learn, and are they useful?

Whether you actually end up paddling in conditions where you rely on rolls as a
self rescue technique or not I think that learning and practicing rolls is
definitely worthwhile. Although IMHO the most useful self rescue technique IS
rolling, having a repertoire of rolls will also definitely improve your boat
handling, comfort in lumpy conditions, and confidence sea kayaking ....  you can
also take a mask along and when the water is clear watch the fishes! ;-) ... and
its not a lot of effort learning to roll its a lot of fun!

When learning to roll it seems like there are a number of 'set' ways to roll and
thats how you do it. Thus folk describe the classic pawlata, screw, c-c, steyr
etc, etc, etc, but I strongly believe that once you start to become a proficient
roller the different rolls merge and you can become more creative using
combinations of movements and support techniques as appropriate, the important
point being that in the process your roll becomes much much stronger. The only way
to be able to be creative and use the full repertoire of different techniques is
to practice as many methods of rolling as possible -  the different ways of
getting support  (c-to-c style brace, sweeps, skulls, draws, and all combinations
thereof etc, etc), and the methods of rotating the boat and recovery while
forward, backward, experimenting with the different buoyant effects of different
body positions etc. Having a number of rolls also means you don't get fussed if a
wave hits you at an inappropriate moment and the first roll doesn't bring you all
the way into balance - no need to set up again for further and probably more
desperate tries at your only roll, you just apply a different technique from where
you are. In this respect I do think that its important not to think 'on' or
'offside', but strive to be equally fluid on both. While I reckon the actual
combat use of handsrolls while seakayaking is likely to be extremely rare I
nevertheless also strongly recommend learning and practicing hands rolls -
satisfying thing to do in itself, but because they are so much less forgiving of
poor hip technique once mastered handsrolls will drastically improve all of your
rolls.

Here are a couple of techniques I have found useful:

First as often stated rotation of the boat is the key, not muscling your way up
with a paddle. A common suggestion for learning the hip rotation is to practice at
the side of a pool for example without a paddle - hands on the side. I don't
recommend this, you'll just learn how to push yourself upright using the side of
the pool.  I think a much more useful exercise is to have an assistant stand next
you in waist deep water. Ditch the paddle, and allow yourself to flop over
sideways into the water with your shoulder supported just under the surface by the
assistant's hands, head at the surface where that nice air is available ... nice
and relaxed. Now rotate the boat to upright with your shoulder STILL resting on
your assistants hands head still at the surface. Repeat this a lot. By doing this
you learn hip rotation first (your hands don't and can't do anything in this
exercise, and your body stays in the water as you rotate the boat,  buoyancy which
is very important for a good roll) When you really have this down, practice
recovery of the body from your assistants support by leaning back over the top of
your now upright boat. Again you don't use your hands! Try it, its that simple,
and when you can do this confidently and smoothly THEN  move on to learning one of
the the movements of the paddle to get you into this position. Then remember not
to just yank on the paddle now your holding it ... the same movement as you were
doing in the exercise .... amazing, you can roll! It works! Why didn't you do this
years ago!

Second a technique for learning to hands roll. Handsrolling is weird and baffling
until you can do it - it seems like you have no support at all!.  Some people
advocate practicing using a buoyant float in your hands. Just as above, you will
just learn to use the buoyancy of the float. I recommend using a hand paddle. I
have a foil shaped board that I use as a leeboard while sailing my capella. Its a
flat plank of wood about two and a half feet long by about three inches wide
sanded into a foil section. (For sailing it is pushed through the deck line
running between the two forward recessed deck fittings closest to the cockpit on
the lee-ward side, to give an idea of the size). This is such a useful tool for
learning hands rolls - hold it in your hand with half of the blade forward of your
fingers, and half behind your hand against the underside of your forearm. Its
useful because unlike a float you use it EXACTLY as you would your hands alone ...
but it makes the roll much easier. The first hands roll I would recommend to try
goes as follows: hold the board in your right hand, then lean as far back as
possible. In an appropriate boat this means put the back or your head flat on the
rear deck. Put your right hand next your left ear, and LOOK at the board. Capsize
left, Its disorientating, but KEEP your head ON the back deck,  and when your
right hand touches the surface hip snap smoothly (not fast, not explosive, smooth)
as you sweep your right hand down and right. Throw your left hand left over the
boat if you like, but KEEP looking at the board in your right hand the WHOLE time.
Congratulations, you now know how to do a handsroll ... when you have confidence
with it just do the same thing without the board.
Last weekend I gave this board to a friend practicing rolls in the pool. She had
an unreliable screw roll and a slightly more reliable pawlata on one side only.
She managed the hand roll with the board first time, and in half an hour was
handsrolling. The improvement this exercise made to her paddle roll was
tremendous.

Finally when you have a roll that works, don't be satisfied, and don't just
practice setting up, capsizing and rolling, 'cos that isn't how it happens for
real. Imagine you have been knocked over! So fall over, anyhow, with the paddle
wherever, without it at all, out of breath, get some one to push you over, get
surprised, go both sides. Up the same side you fell over, fall over then do
something like touch your toes, count to ten etc, then roll up. Swim about while
capsized, toss your paddle away, and swim in the boat to it then roll, try rolling
but not coming all the way up - catch yourself at the surface and skull for
support for a minute, then finish. Roll as fast as possible, then slow it down,
get someone to hold the boat trying to stop you rolling, roll in your own boat, in
others, in boats that don't fit, narrow ones, skinny ones, ww rodeo play-boats are
tricky beasts and excellent for indicating poor technique. In other words play
about with the rolls.

I'll qualify my post if it helps - A few years ago I considered myself to have a
good roll -  a screw roll that worked on both sides  and worked for a re-entry
roll. But it wasn't elegant and was basically a thuggy muscle up. A rather dismal
experience two years ago while sea paddling in Norway indicated that I needed to
do some work. I was just waiting for a companion in flat calm sunny conditions and
thought I may as well do some rolls ... hmmm hadn't rolled the sea boat in months,
I only practiced rolling occasionally, say as a warm up before a rapid in a ww
boat, and whatever, in the relaxed conditions in my sea boat my thuggy explosive
screw roll didn't work and I went for a swim! and then took ***a number of
attempts*** to re-enter and roll successfully (no way was I going to be rescued!)
only to discover that my then Attwood waterbuster pump had failed .....). Flat
calm conditions .... set up, ready ... FAIL.  Was I reminded of the need to
improve on my then essentially single method of rolling. I made a conscious effort
to acquire new rolls, and practice them in a variety of conditions. I made a
greenland paddle (thanks again for your instructions Chuck), which definitely
opens up the options and the fun of rolling for the sake of it, and practiced.
Practiced in different boats with different paddles in different conditions. I now
roll using a number of techniques on both sides - the classification into named
rolls I think breaks down after a bit ... invent a roll, and I practice with
unfeathered greenland paddles, feathered euro paddles, other bits of kit I
regularly carry on deck, handsrolls etc etc.
Learning and practicing rolls is definitely worth the effort, and believe me its
not that hard to acquire a repertoire, and it is fun doing it!

I haven't had time to follow or post to the list for a while, so Hi all!, HTH ...



Cheers

Colin Calder
57º19'N  2º10'W




***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************